Vented metal form or sheeting



July-29, 1969 H. A. WHITE VENTED METAL FORM 0R SHEETING Filed Nov.

United States Patent 3,458,168 VENTED METAL FORM OR SHEETING Henry A. White, Chesterfield, Mo., assiguor to Airtherm Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Nov. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 591,747 Int. Cl. E04g 9/06, 21/00; E04b 1/16 US. -Cl. 249-189 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A novel metal form for supporting a roof or floor slab of wet pour concrete fabricated to include parallel alternating valley and ridges in which the valleys have longitudinally spaced narrow openings disposed above the level of the valleys to evacuate water and water vapor with a minimum loss of cement, typical slots being about threesixteenths inch in length, one thirty-second inch in width, and opening about one-sixteenth inch above the valley level.

The present invention relates generally to the construction arts, and more particularly to a novel metal form for supporting roof or floor slab, insulating wet pour concrete slab, and the like.

There has long existed the need in the construction field of a sheeting structure, particularly in connection with wet concrete employed for roof insulation, which will permit rapid and evenly distributed removal of moisture with minimum concrete run-through and the evacuation of water vapor, thereby affording faster, effective insulation performance. In the applicants wide experience, attempts at solution of the problem have not been wholly satisfactory.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide construction sheeting which satisfies the long need.

In brief, the present novel metal form or sheeting is fabricated to include parallel, alternating valleys and ridges. Spaced openings are provided along the valleys, preferably staggered from valley to valley, to vent the Whole concrete area. The openings comprise narrow slots bounded by material pressed upwardly so that the openings are above the level of the valleys.

Further objects are to provide a novel construction form for supporting insulating concrete slabs of wet material which minimizes moisture problems in the curing process, which provides excellent vapor pressure release, which allows faster, effective insulation performance of fills, which affords easy location of leaks in roof coverings should they occur, which permits water run-0E with minimum loss of cement, which substantially eliminates blisters caused by vapor pressure, which is of strong and sturdy construction, in which the opening has a filtering effect, and which otherwise fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a metal form or sheeting member incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing a single opening;

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary plan view of an opening; and

FIGURES 4 and 5 are, respectively, cross-sectional views taken on substantially the lines 4-4 and 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 10 indicates generally a metal form or sheeting member of a configuration presently used in building construction for temporarily or permanently supporting concrete floor slab, insulating concrete roof slab, etc. The metal form as shown includes parallel alternating valleys 12 and ridges 14. Spaced along each valley 12 are narrow slots or elongated openings 16, preferably staggered in a manner as illustrated. In a typical metal form 10, the slots 16 are spaced 9 /2" apart, such construction achieving excellent de-watering, etc.

The slots 16 are disposed above the floor of the valleys 12 by the longitudinal opposed shoulders or material 18 and the transverse shoulders or material 20 pressed upwardly from the valley 12 by a suitable punch and die unit, or the like. Punching forms roughly serrated edges which have a filtering effect. In a successful exemplification, the slot 16 is about above the floor of the valley 12 and is about in length and l in width. These dimensions may vary, the essential requirement being to permit water to escape with minimum loss of cement. For some installations, the openings or slots 16 may be substantially level with the valleys 12, as where loss of cement is no factor in the installation.

The narrow longitudinally extending slot 16 is a preferred form for the further reason such minimizes disturbing the material in tension, thus effecting substantially no weakening of the valley 12. Load tests have demonstrated no measurable differences in strength. The slots 16 are formed inwardly, which minimizes injury to the hand in handling the metal form 10, to provide the dam which reduces loss of cement.

It is apparent that there has been provided a metal form construction which fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. Sheeting for supporting wet insulating concrete and the like, comprising a formed body including low areas, and drainage means distributed over said low areas adapted to permit de-watering and escape of vapor pressures comprising spaced narrow slots, said slots being above the upper surface of said low areas to limit run-off of cement with Water, said slots being in the order of about three-sixteenths inch in length, one thirty-second inch in width and about one-sixteenth inch above the surface of the low area.

2. Sheeting for supporting wet insulating concrete and the like, comprising a formed body including low areas, and drainage means distributed over said low areas adapted to permit de-watering and escape of vapor pressures comprising spaced narrow slots, said slots being above the upper surface of said low areas to limit run-off of cement with water, said openings being narrow slots extending parallel with the valleys, said slots being in the order of about three-sixteenths inch in length, one thirty-second inch in width and about one-sixteenth inch above the surface of the low area.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS J. SPENCER OVE-RHOLSER, Primary Examiner JOHN 5. BROWN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

